Georgian Vice-PM: we are waiting for the Patriarchate’s decision on Ukrainian church independence

Georgian Vice-Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development Maia Tskitishvili says that the Georgian government is waiting for the decision of the Georgian Patriarchate regarding the recently gained independence of the Ukrainian church from Russia.

First of all, I share the view that the Georgian church should be the first in the country to share its position regarding the issue.”

On the other hand, I welcome any step which will provide opportunities for our ally state to strengthen itself as an independent country,” Tskitishvili said.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Metropolitan Epifaniy, head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, attended a signing ceremony marking the new Ukrainian Orthodox church's independence on 5 January in Istanbul, Turkey.

The decision has been criticised by Russia.

A meeting of the Georgian Holly Synod took place on 27 December, where the Ukrainian church issue was discussed. However, top Georgian clerics stated that they were waiting for the decision of the Ecumenical Patriarch regarding the topic.

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili also said a couple of days ago that she was waiting for the statement of the Georgian Patriarchate regarding the independence of the Ukrainian church.